By Rori Bennett – Junior Reporter
The second annual Downtown Dresden Summer Night Market returned this past Saturday, August 17th from 4 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The weather during the day was extremely mild and clear, creating an inviting atmosphere for perusing the vendors and local businesses.
The Facebook event page for the Dresden Night Market indicated that there were approximately 20,000 people present at the event, which is close to 10 times the population of Dresden.
Several local vendors lined the main street in two rows, allowing people to wander down one side and back up the other.
Approximately 70 vendors participated, and remained open until around 9 p.m., most selling handmade items.
“We thought that the Night Market was a great idea for Dresden, because it brings so many people to the town,” Stuart Kiar, president of the Rotary Club of Dresden, told the Sydenham Current.
“The last two or three that have been held had thousands of people in attendance. This year appears to be the biggest crowd we’ve had yet. So we really thought that it would be a great event to support. And again, we also wanted to raise the profile of the Rotary club, in terms of one of our major projects, which is to end Polio.”
Kiar added: “The main organizers of this event, about two years ago, thought about what they could do to spark more interest in Dresden. Then they came up with the idea of holding a Night Market at Christmas. So that group got together and organized the first one, and it went over really well and so we’ve just been on a roll ever since.”
The market also included a variety of performers, including musical acts such as The Dueling Pianos and Moondog Howlers.
There was a live chalk artist and performers entertaining with light and fire.
Here are some photos from this summer’s Downtown Summer Night Market:
